Demo

Executive Director

Hire Up Recruiting
Hills, AL Full Time
POSTED ON 7/7/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 8/5/2026
Your interest in this position and application is very important to us. We will respond to your application within one business day.

Executive Director / Managing Partner (On-Site Operator)

Location: Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35242 (Liberty Park)

Compensation & Benefits

  • Base Salary: $75,000 – $85,000
  • Long-term growth opportunities within future school expansions
  • Comprehensive benefits package
  • Paid holidays PTO
  • 401k
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Leadership coaching and support
  • Additional benefit details provided during the interview process

Build Alabama's First Location with this Premium Brand

A premium ECE brand is seeking a dynamic, entrepreneurial Executive Director / Managing Partner (On-Site Operator) to lead the launch and long-term success of Alabama's first location.

This is a rare opportunity to build a premier early childhood education center from the ground up while serving as a key strategic partner in a growing organization with plans for future expansion.

Located in the highly sought-after Liberty Park community, our state-of-the-art preschool will provide exceptional early childhood education in a warm, nurturing, diverse, and inclusive environment where children, families, and educators thrive.

We are looking for a hands-on leader who combines strong business acumen with exceptional people leadership and a passion for early childhood education. This individual will take ownership of the school's growth, culture, operations, and community presence while helping establish the school as the premier preschool choice for families throughout Vestavia Hills and the greater Birmingham area.

About The School

This brand is a nationally recognized leader in early childhood education, committed to providing a safe, engaging, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children from infancy through Pre-K.

The Opportunity

As Executive Director / Managing Partner, you will serve as the on-site leader responsible for the successful launch, daily operations, team development, enrollment growth, financial performance, and overall success of the school.

This is not simply a school administrator role. We are seeking a business-minded operator and community builder who views this opportunity as a long-term partnership and is excited to build something exceptional from the ground up.

You Will Play a Critical Role In

  • Recruiting and developing the school's leadership team
  • Driving enrollment and community engagement
  • Building a strong, values-driven culture
  • Managing school performance and profitability
  • Creating an exceptional experience for families and staff
  • Establishing the school's reputation within the community

School Operations

  • Oversee day-to-day operations of the school
  • Ensure a safe, nurturing, engaging, and inclusive environment
  • Maintain compliance with all licensing, health, safety, and accreditation standards
  • Create operational systems and processes that support long-term success
  • Ensure exceptional parent communication and customer experience
  • Financial & business management

Leadership Style We Value

  • Hands-on and highly visible
  • Entrepreneurial and ownership-minded
  • Relationship-driven and community-focused
  • Supportive and coaching-oriented
  • Organized, operationally strong, and results-driven
  • Comfortable balancing empathy with accountability
  • Passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
  • Comfortable engaging families around cultural awareness and inclusive programming

Qualifications

  • 3–5 years of consecutive leadership experience within a single school organization
  • Experience managing a school with 100 enrolled students or a similarly complex operation
  • Proven success leading teams, developing leaders, and driving operational performance
  • Strong business acumen with experience managing budgets, labor, enrollment, and KPIs
  • Demonstrated ability to build culture and lead organizational growth
  • Bachelor's degree in Education, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field preferred

Preferred Candidate Profile

  • Deep roots in Vestavia Hills, Birmingham, or surrounding Alabama communities
  • Established relationships with local families, schools, businesses, civic organizations, and community leaders
  • Resides within approximately 30 minutes of the school or is willing to relocate
  • Excited by the opportunity to build a legacy and grow with a multi-school organization

Work Environment & Expectations

  • Full-time, on-site leadership position
  • Open availability required, including opening and closing responsibilities as needed
  • Highly visible leadership presence expected, particularly during the first six months of operation
  • Collaborative partnership with ownership and franchise leadership

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to build something truly special.

As the founding Executive Director, you will have the unique opportunity to shape the culture, reputation, and long-term success of a flagship school while positioning yourself for future leadership opportunities within a growing multi-school organization.

If you are a servant leader, business operator, and community builder who is passionate about creating exceptional experiences for children, families, and educators, we encourage you to apply.

Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Salary : $75,000 - $85,000

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